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Updated: Jun 25, 2026
Orthotopic Rat Kidney Transplantation: A Novel and Simplified Surgical Approach
Published on: May 7, 2019
[Establishment of rat model of transplantation of kidney containing adrenal implants and its protective effects on
Wei-xing Zhang1, Fu-qing Tan, Gao-xian Zhao
1Institute of Tumour, Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China.
Objective:
To establish a rat model of transplantation of kidney containing adrenal implants and to explore the protective effects of the adrenal implants on the transplanted kidney.
Methods:
Fragments of adrenal cortex of the left adrenal gland were obtained and implanted into the left kidneys of the same would-be donor rats. Twenty-four Lewis rats were transplanted with the left kidneys containing adrenal gland implants of SD rats (Group I), and another Lewis rats were transplanted with the unprepared left kidneys of 24 SD rats (Group II). Seven days after the implantation the right kidneys of the recipient rats were resected. No immunosuppressant was used. The survival time was observed. Blood samples were collected at different time points to examine the serum corticosterone, creatinine, and urea nitrogen. Light microscopy was used to observe the morphology of the implanted kidneys and the adrenal implants.
Results:
Histological examination showed that the adrenal gland implants survived well with good blood supply. Seven days after the resection of the right kidneys microscopy showed atrophy of the adrenal implants. There were no significant differences in serum corticosterone, creatinine, and urea nitrogen between the levels before and 7 days after transplantation and between the 2 groups. The survival time of Group I was 10.2 d +/- 2.2 d, significantly longer than that of Group II (7 d +/- 2 d, P < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Adrenal implants that survive and recover their endocrinal function have protective effect on the transplanted kidney in early period.
